Black Friday? Try Furry Friday

The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire in Bedford and the Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter will join their retail counterparts on Black Friday, featuring a major sale on all adoptable animals that includes an early morning opening, doorbusters and special promotions.

In Bedford:

The ARL's doors will open at 6 a.m., and until 10 a.m., the league is offering free small animals and special pricing on cats and dogs.

During that time period, all cats ages 7 and up will be free, cats 6 months and older will be $25 and all kittens will be $50.

Senior dogs can be adopted for $25, with dogs older than 6 months $75 and puppies $150.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., all animals are 50 percent off.

There are currently 90 animals on site and ready to go, with an additional 62 still waiting to be cleared, said Danielle Snyder, director of adoptions.

At 10 a.m., a winner will be drawn for a $5,000 raffle. Ticket sales ended Tuesday evening.

Chief Development Officer Win Saltmarsh said with only 200 tickets printed, odds of winning are good.

"It's a great way for the League to raise funds to support the animals in our care," Saltmarsh said. "The odds of winning are 1 in 200. That is significantly better odds than any scratch ticket!"

The animal sales continue beyond Black Friday, with all black pets 50 percent off on Saturday and Sunday.

Christmas trees will also be available at the ARL, ranging in size from tabletop to nine feet.

Supporters can also get some holiday shopping done, as the ARL will have 2013 Cash Calendars available for sale, which feature pictures of different adopted rescue animals each month.

The calendar includes 15 chances to win $100 or $250 in raffle drawings throughout the year.

"Basically, we will operate as a one-stop shop on Black Friday," said Snyder.

She said the event proved to be successful last year, with about 70 animals finding good homes.

"That allowed us to clear space, so if someone has a need to surrender, we can take them sooner," she said.

According to Snyder, the wait time just to surrender an animal was two months at this time last year, and the event helped to eliminate that wait for the remainder of the season.

"We don't euthanize for time or space," Snyder said, and with a backlog of animals waiting to be adopted, the wait time increases.

In Manchester:

For those looking to adopt a homeless animal this holiday season, the Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter (FMAS) offers Special Black Friday Weekend Adoption Rates. The special rates will apply to cats over 6 months old and shelter dogs over 1 year old, from Friday, Nov. 23, through Monday, Nov. 26.

Cats older than 6 months will be available for a $20 adoption fee, regularly $85, and dogs older than a year will be available for a $97.50 adoption fee, regularly $195. All animals have been spayed or neutered, are up to date on vaccinations and are microchipped. Discounted adoption fees exclude kittens, puppies and transport dogs.

Currently, FMAS is home to nearly 150 animals who are waiting to meet their new families. There are another 60 homeless cats on a waiting list to receive shelter and medical care before they can begin their journey to a new home.

To view available animals, visit www.manchesteranimalshelter.org or visit the shelter at 490 Dunbarton Road, Manchester. Black Friday weekend hours are Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., and Monday from noon to 4 p.m.

For more information on the Bedford Animal Rescue League animals, contact the Animal Rescue League of N.H. at 472-DOGS (3647) or log on to rescueleague.org.